The WWII Challenge
When is The WWII Challenge?
The WWII Challenge takes place on Thursday, October 1, 2026 in New Orleans, LA.
What distances does The WWII Challenge offer?
The WWII Challenge offers 9 events: Pacific Theater Challenge (72 miles), Liberty Road Challenge (100 miles), Race to Messina Challenge (250 miles), Liberty Road Challenge (712 miles), Pacific Theater Challenge (717 miles), North Africa Challenge (805 Miles), Easy Company Campaign (103 miles), Easy Company Campaign (730 miles), North Africa Challenge (105 Miles).
| Event | Distance | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Theater Challenge (72 miles) | 72.0 mi | $50.00 | Register |
| Liberty Road Challenge (100 miles) | 100.0 mi | $50.00 | Register |
| Race to Messina Challenge (250 miles) | 250.0 mi | $50.00 | Register |
| Liberty Road Challenge (712 miles) | 712.0 mi | $50.00 | Register |
| Pacific Theater Challenge (717 miles) | 717.0 mi | $50.00 | Register |
| North Africa Challenge (805 Miles) | — | $50.00 | Register |
| Easy Company Campaign (103 miles) | — | $50.00 | Register |
| Easy Company Campaign (730 miles) | — | $50.00 | Register |
| North Africa Challenge (105 Miles) | — | $50.00 | Register |
How much does The WWII Challenge cost?
Registration for The WWII Challenge starts at $50.00. Prices vary by event distance.
Where is The WWII Challenge held?
The WWII Challenge is held in New Orleans, LA at 945 Magazine St.
About The WWII Challenge
The World War II Challenge is a unique, virtual opportunity to honor our WWII veterans. You can complete any of the following course as an individual or on a team:
- Easy Company Campaign (103 Mile Course)
- Easy Company Campaign (730 Mile Course)
All courses must be completed and results submitted by 2/28/27.
What Do I Receive With My Registration? All individual and team participants receive a commemorative t-shirt, WWII finishers medal, virtual bib and commemorative race bib , and a 25% discount admission ticket into The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
You Can Do It! The World War II Challenge is a great way to honor the WWII generation and support the Museum. If you can't participate, be a hero by donating to the cause!
CONFIRM YOUR ENTRY
How to Submit Your Results
GET READY TO START THE WWII CHALLENGE!
You have from 10/1/26 until 2/28/27 to complete your challenge as an individual or on a team. You can walk, run, bike or use a treadmill to complete the Challenge!
You will not be allowed to enter miles until the start date of the challenge. Enter your completed miles as you go! Miles can be entered daily, weekly, or whenever you want - as long as the completion date(s) fall between the start date of the challenge and 2/28/27.
HOW TO SUBMIT RESULTS VIA RUNSIGNUP
There are 2 ways to submit your miles completed each day. You can use whichever method works best for you.
Method 1: Submit from RunSignup Race Page
1. Navigate to the RunSignup website > Select RESULTS tab.
2. Search for your registration either by first/last name or by email address/DOB.
3. Once you have found your registration, select Submit Virtual Results.
4. Enter in your miles completed > Select Submit Results
Method 2: Submit Virtual Results from Your RunSignup Profile
1. Navigate to your RunSignup profile > Select the Profile Icon at the top right-hand corner > Select Profile.
2. Scroll down to Upcoming Events/The WWII Challenge > Select Submit Virtual Results
3. Enter in your miles completed > select Submit Results
HOW TO SUBMIT RESULTS VIA ACTIVITY FILE
You can submit virtual results by uploading the GPS activity recorded on fitness trackers which use one of these GPS/Strava formats of data: GPX, TCX and FIT.
Personalized data will automatically fill in - including the Distance, Date, and Time fields from the activity file being submitted.
1. Navigate to the RunSignup website and select RESULTS tab.
OR Navigate to your RunSignup profile. Select the Profile Icon at the top right-hand corner and select Profile.
2. Select Submit Virtual Results.
3. Look for the Load Activity from File button while logging your Activity and click it to open up a panel to submit a file.
A panel will slide out allowing you to browse for a file on your computer or mobile device.
4. Browse for and select the Activity Data file. The fields for Date Completed, Distance in Miles, and Time will fill in automatically. Click Submit.
For a YouTube video with instructions, click HERE
You can learn how to export Activity data from Strava HERE.
HOW TO VIEW YOUR RESULTS DURING THE CHALLENGE
Results are not sorted by time or distance. The WWII Challenge is a competition between you or your team and the challenge course itself. The WWII Challenge is NOT a competition between individuals or teams.
1. Navigate to the RunSignup website > Select RESULTS tab.
2. In the drop-down menu, scroll to your challenge.
3. Search by your name or bib number.
Liberty Road Journey
Pacific Theater Journey
TEAM DISCOUNT
Invite your friends to join you for this year's WWII Challenge!
Teams of 10+ receive a $5/participant discount off of registration.
How does it work?
During registration, the initial member of the group will be able to create the team and team name. As other members of the group register, they will select that team name from the drop-down menu to join that group. The first 9 team members will pay the regular registration price. When the 10th member joins the team, he/she will receive the $5 discount. As soon as the 10th registration is complete, the first 9 team members will receive a $5 refund applied to their original form of payment.
National World War II Museum Donations
The North African Campaign Challenge
In the first week of November 1942, American ground troops joined the battle against Germany for the first time when US Army forces landed at several sites in French North Africa as part of Operation Torch. Follow the route of the 1st Armored Division during their campaign in Northwest Africa. This challenge covers 805 miles from the city of Oran, Algeria to the city of Bizerte, Tunisia.
North Africa Campaign Challenges:
· 805-Mile Course: Individuals or teams virtually complete the 805 miles from Oran, Algeria to Bizerte, Tunisia. As you complete the course, you will virtually visit 7 sites along the US Army’s Operation Torch campaign.
· 105-Mile Course: Individuals or teams visit each site along the course from Oran to Bizerte in smaller mile segments. This challenge course is designed for those that want a shorter challenge.
PARTICIPANTS HAVE UNTIL 2/15/26 TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE.
WWII Challenge T-shirt
Liberty Road Challenge
The Liberty Road Challenge virtual course follows in the footsteps of Allied troops who liberated France and Belgium in 1944 along Liberty Road (French La Voie de la Liberté) a 1,147-kilometer march beginning on Utah Beach in Normandy on June 6, across Northern France to Metz, and then northwards to Bastogne, Belgium which was liberated on September 10,1944 and held strong during the Battle of the Bulge. PARTICIPANTS HAVE UNTIL 2/15/26 TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE.
LIBERTY CHALLENGE 712 MILE COURSE - Individuals or teams will complete the virtual Liberty Road 712 mile course from Sainte-Mere-Eglise in the Normandy region of France to Bastogne, Belgium (712 miles/1147 km). You can walk, jog, run, bike or use a treadmill to complete the course!
LIBERTY CHALLENGE 100 MILE COURSE - Individuals or teams will complete the virtual Liberty Road course from 100 mile course from Normandy to Bastogne in smaller mile segments. This challenge course is designed for those that want a shorter challenge.You can walk, jog, run, bike or use a treadmill to complete the course!
Pacific Theater Challenge
The Pacific Theater Challenge honors those who fought to defeat a determined enemy. From 1941-1945, American service members crossed the vast Pacific Ocean in a feat that seemed impossible. Island after island, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines distinguished themselves against a backdrop of unfamiliar terrain, diverse local populations, and a tenacious enemy. PARTICIPANTS HAVE UNTIL 2/15/26 TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE. You can walk, jog, run, bike or use a treadmill to complete the challenge!
PACIFIC THEATER VIRTUAL 717 MILE COURSE - From 1941-1945, American service members crossed the vast Pacific Ocean in a feat that seemed impossible. Island after island, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines distinguished themselves against a backdrop of unfamiliar terrain, diverse local populations, and a tenacious enemy. This challenge pays tribute to the 717-mile length of the Burma Road, the chief supply route for China’s stand against Imperial Japan. The course will take participants from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay (717 miles/ 1154 km).
PACIFIC THEATER VIRTUAL 72 MILE COURSE - American service members traversed a course of miles to defeat a determined enemy entrenched throughout Asia and the Western Pacific. Operation Pacific Theater pays tribute to the service members who braved overwhelming obstacles. Individuals or teams visit each site along the course in smaller mile segments. This challenge course is designed for those that want a shorter challenge.
Race to Messina Challenge
The Race to Messina Challenge covers 250 miles as a symbolic route from Patton’s landings in Gela, moving west to Agrigento, north to Palermo, and east to Messina. PARTICIPANTS HAVE UNTIL 2/15/26 TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE. You can walk, jog, run, bike or use a treadmill to complete the challenge!
On July 10, 1943, the Allied armada set sail for Sicily. By July 13, more than 3,000 ships landed over 150,000 ground troops, aided by more than 4,000 aircraft. The Americans landed to the south with the goal to sweep west and then advance east. The British landed in the east and would move to the north. The goal for both armies was the northeastern city of Messina.
Lieutenant General George S. Patton landed with the US Seventh Army at Gela, while the General Bernard Montgomery, led the British Eighth Army in the east. The rivalry spilled into the Race to Messina. Patton would eventually beat Montgomery to Messina, arriving on August 17, 1943.